Relative Clause and Conditional Sentences

Relative Clause

A relative clause is one kind of dependent clause. It has a subject and verb, but can’t stand alone as a sentence. It is sometimes called an “adjective clause” because it functions like an adjective—it gives more information about a noun. A relative clause always begins with a “relative pronoun,” which substitutes for a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun when sentences are combined.

The relative pronouns are:

who	for people	can substitute for subject nouns/pronouns (he, she, we, they)
whom	for people	can substitute for object nouns/pronouns (him, her, us, them)
whose	for people	can substitute for possessive nouns/pronouns (his, hers, our, their)
that	for people or things	can be either subject or object can only be used in restrictive relative clauses (see below)
which	for things	can be either subject or object can be used in non-restrictive relative clauses can also be used in restrictive relative clauses, though some people don’t like this use

For example, Here is a passage by writer Ian Frazier;

On another corner is the Pine Ridge post office which shares a large brick building with an auditorium called Billy Mills Hall, where most of the important indoor community gatherings are held. On another corner is a two story brick building containing tribal offices and the offices of the Oglala Department of Public Safety the tribal police.

 

On another corner is a combination convenience store and gas station that then was called Big Bat's Conoco and now is called Big Bat's Texaco. Le and I parked and went in. 

 

Ian Frazier, "On the Rez," The Atlantic Monthly, December 1999, 68.

Example 2;

But I think Sean was a bit upset about that, which is understandable. (which is understandable refers to the whole clause before it [underlined]: that Sean was upset about something)

She goes to Canada and stays with her daughter, and then her daughter comes here the next year. Every other year they change places you know. Which is nice. (Which is nice refers to the whole stretch of text before it [underlined]. This is common in speaking but not in writing.)

 Example 3;

But I think Sean was a bit upset about that, which is understandable. (which is understandable refers to the whole clause before it [underlined]: that Sean was upset about something)

She goes to Canada and stays with her daughter, and then her daughter comes here the next year. Every other year they change places you know. Which is nice. (Which is nice refers to the whole stretch of text before it [underlined]. This is common in speaking but not in writing.)

Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English as a second language.
Watch out:

1. Which type of conditional sentences is it?
2. Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?

There are three types of conditional sentences.

type	condition
I	condition possible to fulfill
II	condition in theory possible to fulfill
III	condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

1. Form

type	if-clause	main clause
I	Simple Present	will-future or (Modal + infinitive)
II	Simple Past	would + infinitive *
III	Past Perfect	would + have + past participle *

2. Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

type	if clause	main clause
I	If I study,	I will pass the exam.
II	If I studied,	I would pass the exam.
III	If I had studied,	I would have passed the exam.

3. Examples (if-clause at the end)

type	main clause	if-clause
I	I will pass the exam	if I study.
II	I would pass the exam	if I studied.
III	I would have passed the exam	if I had studied.

4. Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)

type		Examples
		long forms	short/contracted forms
I	+	If I study, I will pass the exam.	If I study, I'll pass the exam.
	-	If I study, I will not fail the exam. If I do not study, I will fail the exam.	If I study, I won't fail the exam. If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.
II	+	If I studied, I would pass the exam.	If I studied, I'd pass the exam.
	-	If I studied, I would not fail the exam. If I did not study, I would fail the exam.	If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam. If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.
III	+	If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.	If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
	-	If I had studied, I would not have failed the exam. If I had not studied, I would have failed the exam.	If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam. If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).

• I would pass the exam.
• I could pass the exam.
• I might pass the exam.
• I may pass the exam.
• I should pass the exam.
• I must pass the exam.

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